Customer Reviews

The Ante-Room

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I couldn't put it down! The book describes three days in an Irish household. Very atmospheric, and yet the writing is so easy and natural to read. There is unrequited love, and almost every other emotion it is possible to think of. Highly recomended

Kate O'Brien's parlor-set piece about a 19th Century Irish family at the time of the lingering death of the family's mother is spare and relentless. The author evokes through a series of character foils the conflicts between the 19th Century Irish Catholic milieu in which the characters exist and the very real and human passions that they develop at odds with their circumstances. The narrative voice is sympathetic, yet quick to point up the character flaws in each of the family members portrayed in this novel filled with misplaced passions and passionless near misses. Although this is a short novel, it is not a quick read. It instead is a patient, quiet, well-constructed but not particularly novel portrayal of the contrasts between life as we imagine it and life as it really is lived. I recommend the Ante-Room, but it is not for the impatient or faint of heart.

The Ante-Room is set over the course of just a few days in 1880. Agnes Mulqueen lives with her father, brother, and mother, who is dying from cancer. When Agnes's older sister Marie-Rose arrives for a visit, she brings her husband, Vincent, along with her--and Agnes must deal with the feelings she has for her brother-in-law.

This is another one of those books I really wanted to like. But because the characters spend so much time waiting, the novel drags a lot, especially towards the middle. Agnes's struggle--her love her Vincent versus her extremely strong faith--could be interesting, but I just found it dull after a while. I found myself wishing that Agnes would just grow herself a backbone, since she allows people to walk all over her. Actually, none of the characters are particularly likeable, except maybe poor Dr. Curran, who actually seems like a decent guy. Even Teresa Mulqueen, who I'd normally feel sorry for, isn't all that sympathetic. But the author is a gifted writer, and she touches on her characters struggles with a great amount of compassion. Since I like Kate O'Brien's prose style, I'll read more books by her.

This is the story of a late 19th Century well-to-do Irish Catholic household, following the lives of its inhabitants over three days. There are many characters in this story - a mother dying of cancer and casting a long shadow over the household; her long suffering husband; some of her children - spoiled, syphilitic Reggie, chatelaine Agnes and married Marie; strange son-in-law Vincent; and family doctor William Curren. And this is just some of them!

This is not a short book, even if it is set over a short period of time, and is full of characters; but it is not very involving - perhaps this is because none of the characters are particularly likeable or engaging. Everyone comes across as being quite spoiled and bland - even the dying mother comes across as a silly woman who has continued to play favourites with her children and keeps herself alive for the least worthy of the brood. Or Agnes, ostensibly the heroine of the story - you just want to shake her and tell her to get on with her life and stop feeling sorry for herself.

This book has a lot of potential - multiple characters with complex relationships, an intense situation, an interesting historical setting (Bourgeoisie Catholic Ireland) - but it drags. The reader will continue to turn the pages in anticipation of reading a twist somewhere, but instead it slowly rolls towards the obvious conclusion.